Donald Trump’s presidential campaign committee, still active, officially denied political groups affiliated with the nascent “Patriot Party” on Monday.
Why it matters: Trump briefly suggested the possibility of creating a new political party to compete with the Republican Party – with him in charge. But others formed their own “Patriot Party” entities over the past week, and the Trump team wants to make it clear that it has nothing to do with them.
What is happening: Donald J. Trump for President Inc., the ex-president’s official campaign committee, presented a warning to the Federal Electoral Commission officially distancing itself from a new Patriot Party PAC.
- “DJTFP is placing this rejection notice in the public record out of concern for public confusion, which may be induced to believe that Patriot Party activities were authorized by Mr. Trump or DJTFP – or that contributions to this unauthorized committee are being made for DJTFP – when this is not true “, wrote the committee.
What we’re hearing: In a statement to Axios ahead of Monday’s filing, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said his team had nothing to do with that group or any similar effort.
- “We do not support this effort, we have nothing to do with it and we only know it through public reporting,” Miller said in a text message.
Trump briefly suggested the possibility to create – and lead – an alternative political party to compete with the Republican Party.
- Although he quickly abandoned the idea, a number of groups have recently emerged promoting the “Patriot Party” brand.
The Patriot Party group the rejected Trump campaign was just one of a handful of documents to file paperwork with the FEC in the past few days.
- He falsely stated in the FEC paperwork that he had a joint fundraising agreement with Trump’s campaign committee.
- Another group formed on Monday, the National Committee of the Maga Patriot Party, also falsely claimed to have a similar agreement.